Crossing signal



vl\/li11 14,1929. "E. R. GREEN 1,712,820

CROSS ING S IGNAL Filed March 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. L. R dream May 14, 1929. E. R; GREEN CROSSING SIGNAL I Filed March 22, 1928 2 ShBEtS ShGGi N E JP. Green/ Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES EDXVARD R. GREEN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CROSSING SIGNAL.

Application filed March 532, 1928. Serial No. 263,681.

This invention relates to troliic signals of that general class which visually indicate the direction of permitted and iliorbidden llow oil trotlic at street intersections under the control of trallic oliicers and more especially to word signals out the Go and til'op variety. \Vith such signals it is the custom of the ollicers upon leaving, their stations for short periods, to turn the signals to an intermediate position so that uncontrolled trel'lic tlirough the intersection may occur in both directions, the drivers and pedestrians passing; under such conditions at their own risl; and at the risk oi? collisions or accidents resulting them the passage of privilep'ed truil'ic, such. as police patrol cars, ambulances and the apparatus.

Accordingly one of my objects is to pro vide a caution signal to clearly inform trait lie on both streets that travel through the intersection is tree in both directions and hence caution mus be observed, as distinguished from the turned signal mentioned, which ere not always understood by strenor tourists who soinetii'i'ies come to a full stop upon observing the turned signal and are crashed into by following trziilic familiar with the system and thererore not expecting it stop on the part of traliic ahead.

Another obiect to provide in is wherehy the adjustment of the in o als W on trailic is to be ar ested, shell operete on andihle to attract attention to the exposed Stop d wels.

Another object is to provide an eudili-le iiiggnal tor operation hy the oliicer in control. to win I kill trollic ot the impending passage of privileged traffic, such as police patrols on d. the like.

it still :lurther object is to provide a signul of simple, strong, durable and inexpcnsivc constructionv llith these general objects in view the invention consists in certain novel one useful. features of construction and combinetions of parts as hereinafter (hiscribed endv claimed, and in order tluitit may be fully luulerstood, reference is to be had to the accon'i mnying drawings, in Which:

Figure l is u perspective view oil a trul'lic crossing signal embodying the invention, but lacking corner hunp reflectors disclosed by Figures 2, 3 and 8.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the signal.

Figure 3 a view taken generally through the center of the upper part of the sign-o1 and showing certain features in the foregrouni'l in elevation.

Figure 41: is it detailed perspective view of the caution signal clement.

Fipuire 5 is a ira nnentarv pers mrtivc view oil? a port oil the signal.

Figure (3 an enlarged detail persqiective view .illustratiiur more clearly the construction oi the gong-operating latches and, the relation of said latches to the gong-operating lever.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detuil illustratin the pivotal connection of the handle to one oi the signal operating rods.

Figure 8 is a detail perz-ipective view of one of the corner lamp-lu'ildingi; reflectors to illuminate the Stop and on signals tor 1'1i; 5ht-tin1e use.

Referring now to the drawings in detaih 1 indicates a heavy hose, 2 a tubular .--1tanderd extending upward from the base a di:'- tance approximately seven feet, and 3 2i reclangular casing surinountingthe standard, each side of the casing being provided o its lower end with an opening l.

The casino provided with inner walls 5 spaced from the outer walls and extend .ing from the bottom to a plane slightly above the upper edge of the openings 41, and the bottom is stilienod and strenggthenml by a spider frame 6, the central portion oi which depends through the bottom end is eng zigred by the up 'ier end of the standard. The outer iziccs oi: the tour sides of the inner wall beer the Words Stop visible and rez'uioble through the openings l: when said. openi'ipjs are uncovered by a series of tour slides 'l' interposed between the inner and outer walls and susceptible of being disposed. in. raised or inoperative position or in lmvered or operative position, as here ine'liter eppemrs. The outer :iaccs oi the slides bear the words Go so that said Words may be readily seen by approuiminp; trailic when the slides are in their operative or (ii-pressed positions, that is, when resting on. the bottom of the casing, as indicated by 'l'ull lines in Figure 3. Opposite slides are rigidly connected together by crossed frames spaced apart vertically a distance somewhut in excess of the height of the openings l. The said trainee are preferably connected to their respective slides in a horizontal plane above the inner Walls, and the bridge poi portion.

tion 8 of one of said frames, is preferably arched upward and the bridge portion 9 of the other is in the form of an inverted arch. The arched. or bridge portions of said frames are formed with rigid horizontal loop portions 10, to accommodate features of construction hereinafter identified. By vertically spacing the arched portions as ex plained, it will be apparent that either set of the slides may be raised high enough to fully uncover the respective openings 4 without interfering with the other arched This is necessary because the slides, as stated, all bear the word Go, and in practice it is never desirabie to ele vate all. four slides at the same time except when ordinary t-rallic is forbidden and privileged traflic has the right of way in all directions. For ordinary traffic control when the east and west slides are exposed, the north and south slides should be raised so as to expose the north and south words top, the reverse being true when it is desired to permit north and south traffic to flow and forbid the flow of east and west traffic.

Fitting in the inner corners of the casing above the slides are angle spacers 11, and secured in the angles of said spacers are angle guides 12, the guides being of the same length but greater width than the spacers so that in conjunction with the outer walls of the casing, the guide grooves 13 are provided which in effect are continuations of the spaces between the walls.

For the operation of the two sets of slides there are provided vertical lift rods 14 and 15 respectively, the rod 14 being rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the arch 8 and the rod 15 to the inverted arch 9. Said rods extend down through the tubular standard a few feet, or far enough for the respective horizontal handles 16 and 17 to be conveniently accessible to a traffic officer in charge of the signal. The handles are suitably attached to the lower ends of the rods to lift the same, but are capable of a slight pivotal movement on the rods. They project at right angles to each other through vertical slots 18 and 19 in the tubular standard, and at the upper ends of said slots are offset slots 20 and 21, wherein the handles may be set when it is desired to support the slides in elevation position, the slots being of the bayonet variety as the simplest provision for permitting operation of the. handles and for securing them in elevated position.

Arranged within the casing is a series of four plate signals 22 facing properly for the guidance of trafiic. These four signals bear upon their outer'faces the word Caution, and are connected together so as to operate as a single unit by a horizontal frame 23, the said frame at opposite sides, having deing the clapper to plate 29.

pending U-portions or legs 23 which rest upon the bottom of the casing when the caution signals are in inoperative position wholly within the casing. Two of the cantion signal plates are connected by a bridge or cross bar 2 1, and extending downward from said cross bar into the tubular standard is a rod provided at its lowcr cud "itha horizontal handle 26 of the type hereinbefore described, for operation in a hayonet slot 27 in the tubular standard. The handle 27 is preferably disposed a considerable distance bclow the handles of the (hf slides, as the caution signal will be used only oc'assionally and hence it is preferred to dispose the handle at such a point that the oliiccr could not readily operatc it by mistake and thus perhaps confuse trallic at an inopportune moment. The caution signal is exposed by raising the plates to the position indicated by dotted lines, Figure 3, and when in such position advises that irallic may flow in both directions but that due caution should be observed.

As it desirable to call attention of trallic by sound as well as by sight, an alarm mechanism is provided. As shown 28 indicates a. gong of the type conventional on lire apparatus. It is mounted on a plate 29 supported by a standard 30 secured to the spider frame 6, or in any other suitable manner. A clapper 31 is pivoted to plate 2) to strike the gong, and to effect the operation of the clapper each time a set of the (10" signals are raised, a lever 32 is pivoted at 331i) the plate 29. This lever at one side of its pivot carries a pivoted bell-crank connected by a retractile spring 35 to the plate 25). one end of the bell-crank being adapted as the lever is rocked, to engage :1 lug 36 on the clapper and depress the latter against the resistance of a retractile spring 3? connecti'lli bellcrank passes clear of the lug of (he clapper. the latter is swung upwardforciblv bv the tensioned spring 37 and caused to slrilte the gong. The lever 2L when released is rr turned to its initia. position by the spring 35 because the bell-crank will pivotallv operate to accommodate such return. The mechanism of the alarm has been referred to in some detail but it is not new per se and it is therefore thought that the preceding reference is sullicient to make its operation perfectly clear.

To effect the operation of lever 32. arch 8 is provided with an upstanding post 38 equipped with a bevelled pivoted spring latch 39, so that when the said arch is moved upward to raise its connected slides. the latch engages and swings the lever upward. During this movement the clapped is forced downward by the bell-crank until the latter rides off the lug'and releases the clapper and eventually the latch slides from under lUll ltlS

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he lever and permits the latter to be returned to normal. position. When the said. slides are loivererl, the spring of the latch Ell) yields so that the latter can pass the lever. To operate the gene in the same Way when the )lllUl' pair of des is rah-aed, the in- "via'ted arch 9 equipped With an iip'xvardly projecting; s andard ll provhled with a sin1- ilar spring atch ll, the arrangement being t-lll fll. that upward movement of arch 9 causes it: lat h. to operate the love and effect the on of the clapper, the latch yielding die it 211110 is again moved dmvnward. lt will. thus be seen that each time a pair oi. the lie si nals are raised, the audible nal opera lies to :ttlll'i'tflit the attention of to the visual signal. i

t is desirable also that when privilep'ed .lir is about to pass, the ordinary trallic ll .ie notified to clear the strre". 'lo ac- :i it is desi 'able to r: ise so th: t the Stop signal weed. and tor the trailic o'll'rirate the noon in a p racticallv conanner. To do this a cable runs 1 hronggh the tubular stninlard and is ah at its upper endv to the lever 32 at the opposite side oi? the pivot thereof from the .r oment by the spring lalcl es i l!) and ill mentioned. Tl eca le runs over a suitable guide pulley lo, and at its lover endv through an opening ll in the stainlard, and. is provided its lower extremity with an zn'rcei isihle handle l so that the otlicer can inipart quick successive jerks or rnills on the cahle to ellect the rapid operation oi? the ,JjGllEI and thus Warn trallc oi the impending paahngge ot a police patrol vehicle, an a1nbu i or lire apparatus.

ien night 1 tillen the cro sing signal practically no value unless 'illn niintted so that the Words Stop, ile and Can nuzv io readily scei'i at a sni'liciinit dish .railic to slow dmvn, or stop it the int rsectien is reached. .i'lii-i means of nrovidiini; illuminais ot nee a ronvcniei tien tor the signal herein described, l have provided. tour corner reflectors to :ontain irleciric or other lamps, not shown, each sipg; nal comprising a bottom portion l-ll :l astened in anv shitab e manner to the bottom of the cnsinii', a ,;ht angle s-ahaped wall l? rising); troin said bottom portion to about the height ot the openings st and inwardly proiecti' top flanges 4:8 extending from the i walls ll to and against the adjacent at the :a g, thus providing; for the r "1 of light iroin 'ach lamp along" two the casing so to illuminate the at the time exposed, through the the objects ol the invention, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred enllnidiinent oi? the invention, it to be understood that I reserve the right to make all changes properly falling within the principle oil construct-ion and mode of operation involved and within the spirit and scope ot the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A signal comprising a casing having; JtllgllllJfly'dlSIXEGd Walls provided with openings, tilled inner walls for and spaced trnn the outer ells of the casing, and hear ing direclion signal words on their outer sides visible tl'irough the TLWIJQCtlVQ openings, slides between the inner and outer Walls of the casing and hearing signal Words on their outer sid of opposite in'lport to the signal words of the inner walls, and means to siinultaneously adjust pairs ot opl'iosite slides in the same direction, to span the respective openings and nipose their respective signal Words theretlirmigh, and hide the iriposed portions ot the respective inner walls from view, or to a POE-ll: tioi'i back oi? the respective casing rolls to uncover the openings thereof and expose the signal. Words ot the corresponding sides ol? the inner Walls.

2. A. signal comprising a casing having angrnlarly-disposed oruznings in the sides, an inner Wall for and spaced from the outer wall of: the casing, and bearing direction signal Words visible through. said openings, slides between the inner and outer Walls of the casing and. bearing signal Words of 01- posite import to the signal. Words of the inner wall, means to simultaneously adjust opposite slides to span the said openings and hide the exposed portions of the inner Wall from view or to assume a position. out ol view from the trallic, to expose the signal words oil the corresponding; sides of the inner wall, and. an audible signal auto all operated each time a pair oil oppo:-nte slnles are operated to disclose a pair oil. the signal. words of opposite import from those of the slides.

ll. sinnnl comprising a casing); having angularly-disposed o 'ienings in the sides, an inner wall for and spaced from the outer Wall of the casino, and bearing direction signal words visible through said openings, slides between the inner and outer walls of the cising and. bearing; signal worc of opposite import to the signal Words of the inner Wall, means to sin'iultaneously adjust opposite slides to span the sai d openings and hide the exposed portions of the inner Wall from View or to assume a position out of View from the traffic to expose the signal Words of the corresponding sides of the inner Wall, a. caution signal comprising four sides connected as a unit, fitting Within and hidden by the casing and normally resting thereon, and means for elevating said signal to a plane above the top of the casing to expose the signal to trafiic in all directions.

4. A signal comprising a casing having angularly-disposed openings in the sides, an inner Wall for and spaced from the outer Wall of the casing, and bearing direction signal words visible through said openings, slides between the inner and outer Walls of the casing and bearing signal words of op posite import to the signal words of the inner Wall, means to simultaneously adjust opposite slides to span the said openings and hide the exposed portions of the inner wall from View or to assume a position out of View from the trafiic to expose the signal Words of the corresponding sides of the inner wall, an audible signal mechanism within the casing, and means actuated by upward movement of either set of slides. for operating such signal mechanism.

5. A signal comprising a casing having angularly-disposed openings in the sides, an inner Wall for andspaced from the outer wall of the casing, and bearing direction signal Words visible through said openings, slides between the inner and outer walls and bearing signal Words of opposite import to the signal Words of the inner wall, crossed arch frames inverted with respect to each other and connecting opposite slides in pairs, a rod connected to each of the said frames for raising and lowering the respective pairs of slides, and an audible signal mechanism actuated by upward movement of either of said rods.

6. A signal comprising a easing having angularly-disposed openings in the sides, an inner wall for and spared from the outer wall of the casing, and bearing direction signal words visible through said openings, slides between the inner and outer walls and bearing signal words of opposite import to the signal words of the inner wall, erossed arch frames inverted with respect to each other and connecting opposite slides in pairs, a rod connected to eaeh of the said frames for raising and lowering the respectiVe pairs of slides, a gong within the easing, a spring-actuated clapper therefor, mechanism for setting and releasing the clapper to strike the gong, and spring latches movable with said rods for respectively operating said mechanism when the slides are moving upward and to be tripped by and without aifecting said n'ieehanism when the slides are lowered.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDVARD R. GREEN. 

